AMN

Bangladesh police have shot dead 13 drug traffickers and arrested thousands in an aggressive campaign against the surging trade in methamphetamines and other narcotics.

According to police, around 2,300 suspected drug traffickers and users had been arrested in raids since early May and estimated 2.5 million dollars worth of drugs had been seized.

Authorities last week warned traffickers to surrender or face the full force of the law.

This year nine million yaba tablets were seized in less than three months as the refugee influx reached its peak. Nearly two million pills were discovered in a single haul.

A director at the narcotics control department predicted that 600 million dollar worth of yaba could be sold on Bangladesh’s streets this year.